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  • Germany’s migration commissioner proposes Rwanda migrant scheme #rwanda #RwOT

    Speaking in a podcast aired by Table Media published on Thursday, August 5, 2024, Stamp noted that Rwanda was willing to implement the model as part of its efforts to find solutions to the global migration crisis.

    “We currently have no third country that has come forward, with the exception of Rwanda,” Stamp said.
    According to his proposal, asylum processes in Rwanda would take place under the oversight of the United Nations.

    Joachim Stamp is Germany’s Special Representative for Migration Agreements

    Stamp, a member of the junior coalition FDP party who holds a position within Germany’s Interior Ministry, stated that the proposed model would target refugees crossing the EU’s eastern borders, rather than all refugees, as suggested by the conservative opposition. “My suggestion would be that we concentrate on this group. It’s about 10,000 people a year,” he said.

    Stamp also proposed eliminating the “connecting element” in the new Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which presently mandates that external asylum processes be carried out in countries where the asylum seeker has existing social ties.

    In December last year, the European Union reached an agreement on updated regulations to manage irregular migrant and asylum seeker arrivals, marking a significant breakthrough after nearly a decade of disputes. The full implementation of this pact may not occur until the end of 2025.

    Meanwhile, Stamp’s proposal comes in the wake of rising pressure on Germany’s ruling coalition government to restrict irregular migration following a fatal stabbing linked to Islamic State at a city festival last month. The incident fueled far-right opposition and criticism of Berlin’s migration policies.

    Seasoned German parliamentarian Alexander Throm also urged his government in July to adopt the Rwanda migration scheme that was terminated by the UK.
    The spokesperson for Germany’s center-right CDU/CSU faction said the government should build on the preparatory work done by the UK to advance their own plans for the agreement.

    He noted that since Rwanda was willing to collaborate with European countries on migration issues, the end of the UK deal meant more ‘capacity’ for Germany.
    'We should stick to the plan and make use of the groundwork our British partners laid for it,' the member of the German Parliament for Heilbronn told local media.

    In the UK, the migration scheme was meant to deter illegal migrants from arriving using small boats across the English Channel by moving the migrants to Rwanda. However, the Labour Party differed with the Conservatives over the effectiveness and cost of the plan.
    Despite the cancellation of the UK-Rwanda plan, the Rwandan government has reiterated its willingness to collaborate with other nations to tackle migration challenges.

    'We remain committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, including providing safety, dignity, and opportunity to refugees and migrants who come to our country,” the Office of the Government Spokesperson said in July.

    Germany’s migration commissioner has proposed the removal of migrants arriving illegally in the European Union to Rwanda for processing, as part of efforts to address the bloc’s migration challenges.

    Wycliffe Nyamasege

    Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/germany-s-migration-commissioner-proposes-rwanda-migrant-scheme

  • Rwanda, DR Congo, Angola intelligence experts to examine FDLR neutralisation plan #rwanda #RwOT

    Intelligence experts from Rwanda, DR Congo and Angola will meet on August 7 to examine a proposed plan for the 'neutralization of the FDLR,' according to a statement issue after the July 30 meeting of foreign ministers of the three countries in the Angolan capital Luanda.

    The plan to neutralise the FDLR, a DR Congo-based militia founded by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, was developed by the Congolese government.

    The UN-sanctioned terrorist group, which has launched attacks on Rwanda since its founding in 2000, is at the heart of diplomatic tensions between Rwanda and DR Congo.

    The second ministerial meeting between DR Congo and Rwanda was mediated by Angola's foreign minister Tete Antonio. It was attended by Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Olivier Nduhungirehe and his Congolese counterpart Therese Kayikwamba Wagner.

    The ministers decided the 'operationalization of the FDLR Neutralisation Plan,' read the final statement from the meeting.

    The first ministerial meeting of the foreign ministers was in March.

    The proposed plan for FDLR's neutralisation was submitted to the mediator on April 26 and the Rwandan government shared its analysis and observation on it on May 6.

    'The Ministers took note of the Mediator's proposal arising from the Plan proposed by the [Congolese government] on the neutralization of the FDLR and the observations of Rwanda,' the statement said.

    'They therefore instructed intelligence experts from the three countries and other entities' to meet in Luanda on August 7, to 'examine the Mediator's proposal on the Harmonized Plan for the Neutralization of the FDLR,' the statement added.

    The intelligence experts are expected to submit their report by August 15, before the ministerial meeting which is also due in August.

    The Angola-mediated negotiations between Rwanda and DR Congo, known as the Luanda Process, were initiated in mid-2022 after the two countries' relations took a hit from the conflict between the Congolese army and the M23 rebels in North Kivu province.

    The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels — allegations Kigali dismisses.

    Rwanda has also laid out its concerns about the integration of the FDLR into the Congolese army in its war against the M23 rebels.

    The Rwandan government says the FDLR, which is accused of spreading genocide ideology and hate speech against the Congolese Tutsi communities, not only threatens Rwanda's security but also the wider Great Lakes Region.

    The United Nations Special Advisor Alice Wairimu Nderitu said earlier this week that the presence in eastern DR Congo of the militia implicated in the Genocide against the Tutsi fed into a 'cycle of impunity.'

    'As we commemorate 30 years after the Genocide against the Tutsi, there are more than 1,000 indictments and international arrest warrants in 33 countries for perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi,' Nderitu said as she concluded a week-long visit to Rwanda.

    'Some of these indicted people, in their hundreds, are based in the [DR Congo]. It is unacceptable that these people have not been brought to trial yet.'

    'Accountability is the first step towards breaking the cycle of impunity and recurrence,' said Nderitu, adding that risk factor for genocide in eastern DR Congo 'remain grimly high.'

    The post Rwanda, DR Congo, Angola intelligence experts to examine FDLR neutralisation plan appeared first on The Custom Reports.

    Source : https://thecustomreports.com/rwanda-dr-congo-angola-intelligence-experts-to-examine-fdlr-neutralisation-plan/

  • Is Kamala Harris Indian or Black? Fact check on Trump's claim that VP changed her identity #rwanda #RwOT

    Donald Trump recently alleged that vice president Kamala Harris 'happened to turn Black' some years ago, and that 'all of a sudden, she made a turn' in her identity. However the former president's claim is not true. Harris never switched from identifying as Indian-American to Black.

    What did Donald Trump say?

    At a gathering of Black journalists in Chicago, an interviewer asked Trump if he agreed with Republicans on Capitol Hill who refer to Harris as 'DEI hire.' In response, Trump questioned Harris' heritage

    'She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn't know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black. So I don't know, is she Indian or is she Black?' the former president said at the National Association of Black Journalists convention.

    'I respect either one, but she obviously doesn't, because she was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she went — she became a Black person,' he said, adding, 'I think somebody should look into that too.'

    Harris later spoke at a gathering of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority in Houston, where she described Trump's comments as 'the same old show, the divisiveness and the disrespect.' 'Let me just say, the American people deserve better,' she added.

    Fact-checking Donald Trump's claim

    Harris has long identified as both Black and Indian in an attempt to recognise both her parents' heritage as part of her identity. In fact, her senate bio said that she is 'the second African-American woman and first South Asian-American senator in history.'

    In her 2019 memoir titled The Truths We Hold, Harris opened up about her mixed-race identity and upbringing. She described how she and her younger sister Maya 'were raised with a strong awareness of and appreciation for Indian culture.' She said that her mom also 'understood very well that she was raising two black daughters' and 'was determined to make sure (they) would grow into confident, proud black women.'

    In light of Trump's comments, the Reuters Fact Check team reported that Harris has always described her racial identity as Black, South Asian, Indian-American, African-American, and Jamaican-American — all of which stem from her parents' identities.

    Harris, the first Black woman and Asian-American on a major presidential ticket in the United States, is the daughter of late Shyamala Gopalan, who was Indian-American, and Donald Harris, who is Jamaican-American. Donald emigrated to the US from Jamaica in 1964. Most of Jamaica's population comprise people who descended from enslaved Africans who were brought to work the island's sugar estates by the British mostly during the 18th century. 90% of Jamaicans were of African origin as of 2012.

    Shyamala was Tamil Indian-American. She died in 2009.

    The post Is Kamala Harris Indian or Black? Fact check on Trump's claim that VP changed her identity appeared first on The Custom Reports.

    Source : https://thecustomreports.com/is-kamala-harris-indian-or-black-fact-check-on-trumps-claim-that-vp-changed-her-identity/

  • Kamala Harris' birth certificate shared online after Trump questions race #rwanda #RwOT

    In a contentious exchange at the National Association for Black Journalists (NABJ) on Wednesday, former US President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump questioned Vice President Kamala Harris's ethnicity. Hours later, far-right commentator Laura Loomer posted Harris's birth certificate, listing her mother's ethnicity as 'Caucasian,' ostensibly supporting Trump's claim that Harris is not Black.
    Image
    The post was met with mixed responses, with many pointing out the lack of logic in it, stating that Harris's father could be both Black and Jamaican. This echoed Trump's comment where the Republican nominee could not seem to understand that Harris could be of both Indian and Black origins.

    I have a copy of Kamala Harris's @KamalaHarris's birth certificate.

    Nowhere on her birth certificate does it say that she is BLACK OR AFRICAN. @KamalaHQ is a liar.

    Donald Trump is correct. Kamala Harris is NOT black and never has been.

    She is also the descendent of slave… pic.twitter.com/E0uq1TCfFy

    — Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) July 31, 2024

    Kamala Harris' heritage

    Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was an Indian-American biomedical scientist, and her father, Donald Harris, is a Jamaican-American professor emeritus at Stanford University. Despite these facts, Trump's questioning of Harris's racial identity has stirred significant controversy.
    In response, Harris's team issued a statement condemning Trump's remarks: 'The hostility Donald Trump showed on stage today is the same hostility he has shown throughout his life, throughout his term in office, and throughout his campaign for president as he seeks to regain power and inflict his harmful Project 2025 agenda on the American people.'

    Fact-checkers clarify Harris' certificate does not mention race

    Fact-checkers, including Snopes, have clarified that California birth certificates in the 1960s often did not specify a child's race. Harris's team reiterated that her mother's listing as 'Caucasian' does not alter her identity.

    Controversy around Obama's ethnicity and birthplace

    This incident also echoes similar allegations faced by former US President Barack Obama. During and after his 2008 campaign, Obama's birthplace and citizenship were widely questioned, with theories falsely claiming he was born in Kenya or that he lost his US citizenship by becoming an Indonesian citizen.
    These claims have been largely characterised as racially motivated attacks against Obama, the first African-American president of the United States.
    Ultimately, Obama had the White House release his birth certificate in 2011, while he was in office, to end conspiracy theories around his birth and citizenship.

    Trump's interview with Black journalists

    During his interview at the NABJ event in Chicago, Trump repeatedly questioned Harris's racial identity. When pressed about his previous comments questioning the birthplace of prominent Black figures, including Obama, and why Black voters should support him in the 2024 elections, Trump deflected, criticising the interviewer's 'hostility' and the network they represented.
    'I didn't know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So I don't know, is she Indian or is she Black?' Trump remarked.
    One of the moderators tried to point out that Harris has always identified as Black and attended a historically Black university; however, their comments were ignored.
    In a bizarre move, Trump went on to compare himself to Abraham Lincoln, claiming he was the best President for Black voters since Lincoln, who ended slavery and paved the way for civil rights.

    HERE'S PICTURE OF KAMALA IYER HARRIS'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE☝🏻
    at time of Kamala's birth, her parents were not U.S. citizens.
    They were foreign students.
    she was daughter of non-citizens. This makes her an anchor baby. She is not eligible to hold office of President. pic.twitter.com/eU8ulqQguQ

    — MJK (@MJK10797588) July 27, 2024

    Additionally, Trump reiterated his promise to pardon January 6 rioters, including those convicted of assaulting police officers.
    This latest incident highlights the enduring racial tensions and controversies in American politics, highlighting the challenges faced by minority leaders in their pursuit of public office.
    According to a Bloomberg poll, Harris is currently leading in five of seven battleground states against Trump. The US presidential polls are scheduled for November 5.

    The post Kamala Harris' birth certificate shared online after Trump questions race appeared first on The Custom Reports.

    Source : https://thecustomreports.com/kamala-harris-birth-certificate-shared-online-after-trump-questions-race/

  • Rwanda identified as key partner in strategic cooperation in Africa – FOCAC #rwanda #RwOT

    'Through Jinhua University, we focus on areas such as research, academic discussions, and skills training, and we’ve established a new multilevel, multifield, and multiform pattern of China-Africa education cooperation,' Zhu stated.

    To date, Jinhua City has trained over 30,000 African students from more than 50 countries. Zhejiang Normal Universityin Jinhua is home to the first comprehensive African Research Institute in a Chinese university and has hosted nearly 300 training programs for over 6,000 African officials, experts, and scholars. This has cultivated a significant number of African experts in China and China experts in Africa.

    The city’s educational collaboration includes partnerships like the Morocco-Yiwu Business School and Jinhua Polytechnic Universities. Additionally, Jinhua Polytechnic has partnered with Musanze Integrated Polytechnic in Rwanda’s Northern Province. Zhu expressed optimism about this year’s FOCAC Summit, seeing it as an opportunity to deepen such collaborations.

    Many African students have benefited from Chinese development initiatives in Africa

    'In April, the university welcomed 30 international students from Rwanda’s Musanze College [IPRC Musanze]. These students have quickly adapted to their studies in Jinhua and have strengthened their confidence in the future of vocational education,' Zhu noted.

    'Looking ahead, we take this Beijing Summit FOCAC as an opportunity to further deepen and expand pragmatic cooperation with African countries in all aspects. We will continue to polish businesses as part of China Africa cooperation and make great contributions for building a China-Africa high level community with a shared future,' added Zhu.

    On March 28, 2024, Jinhua signed a Sister Cities Agreement with Musanze District in Rwanda’s Northern Province, marking the first such agreement between China and Rwanda and symbolizing a new chapter of friendship and cooperation.

    In the same month, Jinhua Polytechnic, signed a five-year agreement for an exchange program that initially allowed students from IPRC Musanze departing for China to study for two years in Rwanda and one year in China for an Advanced Diploma. This agreement followed a long term partnership between the two side, spanning more than a decade.

    Zhu Chonglie, Secretary of the Communist Party of China’s Jinhua Municipal Committee addressing members of the press.

    Zhejiang Province is one of China’s most economically developed regions, and has forged agreements with various African countries in trade, education, and development.

    Chen Jiangfeng, Deputy Director of Zhejiang’s Department of Foreign Affairs, highlighted that Zhejiang has launched two consecutive three-year action plans on Zhejiang-Africa cooperation. 'These efforts have led to new progress and results, particularly in frequent people-to-people exchanges,' he said.

    Zhejiang has established 31 sister relationships with African countries, including Rwanda, ensuring friendly relations at the provincial, municipal, and district levels. In recent years, delegations led by top Zhejiang officials have visited Africa, co-hosting events and signing major cooperation agreements with local governments.

    Economic and trade ties between Zhejiang and Africa are yielding significant results. In 2023, bilateral trade reached USD 53.9 billion, with Zhejiang’s investment in Africa totaling USD 4.6 billion. In the first half of 2024, two-way trade amounted to USD 27.88 billion, with a 12.9% year-on-year increase in imports from Africa, totaling USD 5.55 billion.

    Journalists attending the press briefing in Beijing.

    Educational and cultural exchanges are also flourishing. More than 20 Zhejiang universities have formed partnerships with African institutions, and eight Confucius Institutes have been established across the continent, training 120,000 Chinese language talents. Zhejiang has also provided vocational training for over 2,800 individuals from more than 160 African companies, and over 6,500 African students are currently studying in Zhejiang.

    Medical cooperation is another pillar of Zhejiang’s engagement with Africa. For 55 consecutive years, Zhejiang has sent medical aid teams to African countries, including Mali and Namibia. In 2022 and 2023 alone, Zhejiang dispatched 110 medical personnel to Africa, delivering services to 183,800 people. These teams also provided free clinics in remote areas and promoted traditional Chinese medicine while conducting over 70 medical training sessions and 15 academic meetings.

    Chen Jiangfeng, Deputy Director of Zhejiang’s Department of Foreign Affairs, highlighted that Zhejiang has launched two consecutive three-year action plans on Zhejiang-Africa cooperation.

    Théophile Niyitegeka

    Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/focac-rwanda-identified-as-key-partner-in-strategic-cooperation-with-africa

  • Rwanda’s Irembo sets sights on private sector in expanded service offerings #rwanda #RwOT

    Speaking during a media engagement in Kigali on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, Irembo’s Chief Operations Officer, Patrick Gategabondo, said the expansion strategy aligns with the company’s vision of providing a unified platform for all types of services.

    Irembo, established in 2014, is renowned for developing and maintaining IremboGov, a one-stop portal for e-governance services and the gateway to Rwandan government services. Some of the new services on the platform include applications for import permits, business operator licenses, premises registration services, the legalization of public documents from Rwanda to be used abroad (Apostille), and ID replacement for diaspora residents, among others.

    As part of its expansion strategy, Irembo has obtained a Payment Service Provider (PSP) license from the Central Bank, which enables the company to offer secure and efficient digital payment solutions through its platform, Irembopay.

    “We’ve seen how our collaboration with the government has effectively addressed challenges in government-to-citizen and government-to-business services. We believe this approach will be even more impactful in solving business-to-citizen and business-to-business needs,' Gategabondo stated.

    As part of its expansion strategy, Irembo has also set its sights on markets beyond Rwanda’s borders, aiming to forge broader partnerships and extend its influence regionally and internationally, particularly the Global South.

    “Irembo was a brainchild of the new Rwanda, but when it began being developed, we immediately understood that there was no way we could build a solution that does not extend beyond just Rwanda. So, one of the absolute plans and dreams we have is to build something so intelligent that it will actually help build other continents,” Gategabondo explained

    Considering that there are more or less similar issues in terms of access and reaching out to citizens this development seeks to replicate the model available in Rwanda in other places including Central, Western, Southern, Eastern Africa, and beyond.

    “We have a strong belief that we are on the right path, and hopefully, if we can move forward soon enough, we’ll be able to reach the next level,' Gategabondo said, emphasizing the company’s future plans.

    IremboPay is a digital payment gateway that allows companies and other organizations to receive digital payments. It supports various payment options and is integrated with telcos, mobile money, and credit or debit cards.

    Kevin Kabera, the Business Development Manager at Irembo, told IGIHE that the service, which has primarily been operational for government institutions, has now begun expanding into the private sector.

    “Now that we’ve secured the license from the Central Bank, we are currently engaging different private companies to start supporting them with digital payment collections,” Kabera revealed, adding, 'Irembopay is fully integrated with Momo, Airtel Money, different banks and cards.'

    Kevin Kabera (right), the Business Development Manager at Irembo, told IGIHE that the service, which has primarily been operational for government institutions, has now begun expanding into the private sector.

    The recent certification from the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) allows Irembo to compete with other payment gateways in the market.

    In the recent past, Irembo has established significant strategic partnerships to broaden its service offerings and reach new markets.

    One major collaboration is the partnership with Old Mutual Rwanda, which aims to create an easy-to-use online platform where people can explore and purchase insurance products without the need for in-person consultations.

    According to the management, the collaboration with the insurer represents Irembo’s significant move into the private sector, which focuses on providing digitized insurance services.

    Irembo’s Chief Operations Officer, Patrick Gategabondo, said the expansion strategy aligns with the company’s vision of providing a unified platform for all types of services.

    Wycliffe Nyamasege

    Source : https://en.igihe.com/business/article/rwanda-s-irembo-sets-sights-on-private-sector-in-expanded-service-offerings

  • Kigali Green City: A vision for sustainable housing and urban living #rwanda #RwOT

    The Kigali Green City is a sustainable and affordable development project featuring eco-friendly buildings that utilize renewable energy, recyclable materials, and are constructed with locally sourced materials. The master plan for this city has been finalized, and residents are now permitted to begin construction in line with it, provided they obtain the required building permits.

    The project will be undertaken in a 600-hectare area, where the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle was previously located, in Kinyinya, within the City of Kigali and its surroundings. The planning director of Kigali City, Marie Solange Muhirwa, announced that the master plan, which will guide the implementation of the Kigali Green City project in Kinyinya, is now ready.

    The project will be undertaken in a 600-hectare area.

    The Green City project will be divided into 18 zones, each equipped with all necessary amenities.

    “We envisioned a city where all essential services are available within a 15-minute walking distance, and we are conducting a trial in Kinyinya. Once completed, we will implement this in other areas as well,” Muhirwa stated.

    In Green City Kigali, affordable housing will be constructed for a population ranging from 170,000 to 200,000 residents. Muhirwa explained that the project will include mid-range housing accessible to people from all walks of life and will be designed to withstand climate change.

    “This will be a neighbourhood like any other, but with the capacity to handle climate change. We also want to use materials produced in Rwanda,” she said.

    “We aim to build affordable housing within the financial reach of current and future residents so that those living here today can continue to do so.”

    As part of the Green City plan, different sections will be prepared, each resembling a village, with basic infrastructure such as schools, roads, markets, health centers, and entertainment facilities. She highlighted that the master plan was developed in collaboration with Fonerwa and the residents of Kinyinya, who were given the opportunity to provide input.

    Regarding transportation, it is expected that residents will rely on public transport or bicycles for their commutes. There are also plans to build roads connecting the area to job opportunities, such as a road linking to the Masoro industrial park, where employment is available.

    As an environmentally friendly city, it will play a significant role in beautifying Kigali and reducing the impact of air pollution. Additionally, waste will be managed in a way that promotes recycling rather than becoming a problem, as is commonly the case.

    The master plan indicates that at least 75% of the electricity used in the neighbourhood will come from renewable energy, and the houses will be designed to conserve both electricity and water.

    The Kigali Green City is a sustainable and affordable development project featuring eco-friendly buildings that utilize renewable energy, recyclable materials, and are constructed with locally sourced materials.

    Beyond entertainment areas, the plan includes spaces dedicated to tourism promotion and environmental conservation, such as an Urban Eco-Park. It is also planned to create at least 50,000 jobs in Kinyinya through the establishment of business opportunities within the different zones. In this project, residents can build houses that comply with the master plan, or investors may do so on their behalf.

    The types of houses to be built will vary depending on the location, with more sophisticated buildings required as one approaches the main road. The government’s role is to provide the necessary infrastructure for the area, including roads, water, electricity, schools, markets, health centers, and more.

    Some residents had previously expressed concerns about not receiving building permits since the project was announced, but now the City of Kigali is ready to issue them to those who wish to build in line with the master plan.

    There will be a road surrounding the area, as well as one designated for large public transportation buses, making travel easier. A network of roads will also be built on slopes, areas with trees, and covered pedestrian paths. A valley will connect pedestrian pathways surrounded by forests and the road designated for large public transportation buses.

    Additionally, there will be easy-to-use infrastructure accessible to everyone. The area will have nursery, primary, secondary, vocational (TVET), and university schools, as well as areas designated for economic activities aimed at promoting non-agricultural jobs.

    The unveiling of the master plan allows residents who wish to build according to the plan to obtain the necessary permits.

    IGIHE

    Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/kigali-green-city-a-vision-for-sustainable-housing-and-urban-living

  • UK announces new £25M funding to scale up agribusinesses in Rwanda #rwanda #RwOT

    UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, confirmed the funding at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 in Kigali on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

    The contribution will be directed towards AgDevCo Ventures, a funding facility designed to help small and medium-sized agribusinesses grow.

    With previous UK investments, AgDevCo has already made a significant impact on Rwanda’s food security, improving nutrition and creating a substantial number of quality jobs in businesses such as Kigali Farms and Kivu Choice.

    The Africa Food Systems Forum is the world’s premier event for African agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders to take practical action and share lessons to advance African food systems. The summit kicked off on Tuesday and will conclude on Friday, September 6, 2024.

    Minister Collins is in the country for a three-day visit. As part of the visit, he will also review the successes of UK action on climate finance and sustainable cooling, and visit Trinity Metals to understand how responsible mining supports Rwanda’s green energy transition ambitions.

    'During my visit to Rwanda, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of our relationship. Our two countries continue to collaborate on a range of important issues, including climate change and mutual prosperity,' he stated.

    The minister is also scheduled to hold discussions with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, James Kabarebe, focusing on bilateral relations and regional issues.

    UK Minister for Africa Lord Collins is in Rwanda country for a three-day visit.

    Wycliffe Nyamasege

    Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/uk-announces-new-l25m-funding-to-scale-up-agribusinesses-in-rwanda

  • Heifer International launches the mechanization for Africa initiative #rwanda #RwOT

    IGIHE

    Source : https://en.igihe.com/economy/article/heifer-international-launches-the-mechanization-for-africa-initiative

  • Fortified Whole Grain Alliance (FWGA) sets new ambitious target to combat malnutrition and drive sustainable food systems #rwanda #RwOT

    FWGA also works in collaboration with core, implementing, and institutional partners such as the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), DSM-Firmenich, Boston Consulting Group, Vanguard Economics in Rwanda and others. This latest effort advances the Alliance’s long-term vision of catalyzing a significant shift in consumption patterns of FWGs to tackle global malnutrition and promotion of more sustainable food systems for people.

    Measurable Impact, Lasting Change

    With active initiatives underway in Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi, focusing on fortified whole-grain maize, expansion plans included at least three West African nations (Ghana, Nigeria, and Benin) concentrating on parboiled unpolished rice and North Africa (Egypt), where efforts would focus on whole wheat flour.

    The FWGA also set a target of at least 50% of grain foods in institutional markets and 25% in consumer markets within low and middle income countries (LMICs) to access fortified whole grain by 2032.

    Fortified Whole Grains: A sustainable solution

    Shifting from refined grains to FWGs offers a multitude of benefits. They can significantly improve dietary quality without increasing production costs. Fortified whole grains offer six to seven times more nutritional value than their refined counterparts, providing higher protein, fiber, and essential micronutrients.

    In addition, this transition supports environmental sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions as FWGs require less water, land, fertilizers, and pesticides.

    Quotes from Key Speakers

    Hon. Jean Claude Musabyimana, Ministry of Local Government for the Government of Rwanda:
    “Together, we are more than just a coalition; we are a beacon of hope, a testament to what we can achieve when governments, the private sector, nonprofits, and communities come together with a shared vision. By working together, we can create a future where fortified whole grains are a staple in every household, ensuring the health and well-being of future generations.'

    Roy Steiner, Senior Vice President for Food, The Rockefeller Foundation:
    'The Fortified Whole Grain Alliance is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. By investing in fortified whole grains, we are investing in the health and well-being of future generations — especially people living in vulnerable communities. This initiative aligns with The Rockefeller Foundation’s commitment to building a more equitable and sustainable world where everyone, no matter their circumstances, can thrive.'

    Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, GAIN:
    “GAIN is excited to be a part of the Fortified Whole Grain Alliance. This initiative has the potential to significantly impact global nutrition, especially if we focus on public procurement. By increasing the availability of fortified whole grains, we can improve the health of millions of people while benefiting the environment.”

    Join the Movement for a Healthier Future

    The launch of the FWGA signifies a pivotal moment in the global fight against malnutrition and the promotion of sustainable food systems. Learn more about the Alliance, its mission, and how you can be a part of this transformative movement by visiting the FWGA website: FWGA – Fortified Whole Grain Alliance

    About the Fortified Whole Grain Alliance (FWGA)

    The Fortified Whole Grain Alliance (FWGA) is a coalition of stakeholders that span across the food system, including nonprofit and private sector members and is committed to increasing the global consumption of fortified whole grains (FWG).

    Local Government Minister Jean Claude Musabyimana addresses participants at the Fortified Whole Grain Alliance (FWGA) official launch in the company of David Kamau (FWGA), Roy Steiner, Peiman Milani, and Betty Kibaara of the Rockefeller Foundation.

    It is committed to delivering its stated mission, purpose and vision by bringing together the collective expertise, resources, operations, funding, visibility, and convening power of its members.
    Together, we can cultivate a future where healthy diets and a thriving planet go hand in hand.

    For more information, please follow #FWGA, #LifeinFull, #SustainableFoodSystems and visit:
    https://lnkd.in/dPCDVNzt
    Rikke Iben Neess
    www.fwg-alliance.org

    IGIHE

    Source : https://en.igihe.com/health/article/fortified-whole-grain-alliance-fwga-sets-new-ambitious-target-to-combat